Load carrying frame



LOAD CARRYING FRAME Filed Feb. 2, 1966 32 36 s 24 f HG. Z k 54 64 3 [WE/Woe. 6z 66 6 J Mame f. M/me az 0 65 7 WW Arm/21mm United States Patent 3,322,312 LOAD CARRYING FRAME Victor I. Mitchell 10860 Scotsman Way, Rancho Cordova, Calif. 95670 Filed Feb. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 524,445 9 Claims. (Cl. 224-26) This invention relates to a load carrying frame and more particularly to a device usable by sportsmen, hikers, soldiers and the like, for transporting food and equipment from place to place in areas where vehicles are unavailable.

Anyone that has carried a pack for a length of time has painfully learned that the primary difliculty with such endeavors is that, while the load may not be of great Weight, it is almost impossible to adjust the load and the load carrying harness to make the individual reasonably comfortable. The prime difiiculty with older packs is that the load was carried on the back and hung from the shoulders almost requiring the hiker to bend forward thus curving the spine resulting in even more rapid fatigue of the hiker. More recent load carrying devices have utilized shoulder engaging hooks to suspend the upper part of the load with a transverse pad engaging the small of the back to support part of the load.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a load carrying frame in which is borne by the hips of the individual.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a load carrying frame which is equipped with a forwardly disposed receptacle for carrying food and the like with a packaged load secured on the rear of the frame.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a load carrying frame which includes means spacing A further object of the instant invention is to provide a load carrying frame which may be utilized in camp as a support for a table or the like.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a load carrying frame in which the rigid portions of the frame are held in spaced relation to the individual by webbing to avoid discomfort to the user,

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side e-levational view of an individual carrying the frame of the instant invention which is shown as loaded; and

FIGURE 2 is aperspective view of the load carrying frame of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, the load carrying frame of the instant invention is denominated generally at 10 and illustrated in FIGURE 1 as loaded and in position while FIG- URE 2 shows a view of the frame itself. Constituting major components of frame 10 are a rigid framework illustrated generally at 12 on the rear face of which is fixed a packaged load 14 by a suitable rope 16 and a separate receptacle shown generally at 18 secured to the front face of framework 12. The remaining major components of frame 10 are a pair of shoulder straps shown generally at 20 interconnecting the front and rear faces of framework 12 for transmitting part of the weight of frame 10 to the shoulder of the individual and a body a substantial portion of the weight 3,322,312 Patented May 30, 1967 encircling belt shown generally at 22 for transmitting the remainder of the load to the individuals hips.

Frame 12 comprises the first pair of parallel tubular supports 24, 26 defining the front face of framework 12 and a second pair of parallel tubular supports 28, 30, defining a rear face. As may be seen best in FIGURE 2, the lower ends of supports 24, 26, 28 and 30 reside in the corners of a regula quadrilateral, by which is meant a square, a rectangle or a trapezoid. Each of supports 24, 26, 28, 30 is connected to each of the two nearest sup ports by a number of straight tubular braces 32, with a pair of upwardly convex tubular braces 34 connecting together supports 24 and 23, and 26 and 30;As may be seen in FIGURE 1, convex braces 3 4 space the front and rear faces of framework 12 in a parallel relationship with brace 34 cooperating with its associated supports to form a generally U-shaped structure positioned over the shoulder of the individual.

In order to facilitate the securement of packaged load 14 to the rear face of framework 12, a plurality of tie points, hooks or T-bars 36 are secured to supports 28, 30 and the rear portion of convex braces 34 in order to receive rope 16. Separate receptacle 18 preferably includes a rectangular box-shaped structure 38- afiixed to the forward face of framework 12 as by welding, riveting o the like to supports 24, 26 and braces 32. Receptacle 18 also includes a removable lid 40 such that the primarily intended to be a food compartment such that the individual can prepare a meal without unpacking load 14, such as may 'be advantageous for a midday meal while hiking.

As an additional feature for framework 12, a plurality of webbing strips 42 are secured between supports 28, 30

between braces 32 and thereby keep the load from contacting the back of the individual. By spacing load 14 from the back of the individual adequate ventilation is assured thereby facilitating the evaporation of perspiration and promoting comfort of the individual.

Each of shoulder 46 looped a belt tongue and 1s received in a conventional adjustable buckle 50 which is attached weight thereof.

Body encircling belt 22 includes a webbing strip 54 adapted to be placed about the waist of the individual with adjustable buckle 56 being secured to one 54 for adjusting belt 22 in a known manner. Fixedly positioned on opposite sides of the webbing 54 are a pair of relatively soft hip pads 58 to each of which is secured a pair of elongate flexible members 60 each of which carry a releasable fastening means shown generally at 62 which cooperate with a plurality of eyes 64- on each of supports 24, 26, 28, 30.

For purposes of orienting hip pads 58 with respect to the remainder of frame 10, it should be noted that they are faced or directed toward the side or remaining faces of framework 12. Although four elongate members 60 are illustrated, it should be pointed out that a minimum of three connections between belt 22 and framework 12 is required to space the lower end thereof away from the body of the individual to avoid discomforting the person by contact with the rigid elements of load carrying frame 10. For example, should the individual bend forwardly, the rear face of framework 12 would tend to move toward the persons body but is restrained against movement by maintaining the forward end of framework 12 against movement by tension in elongate member 60.

It will be readily apparent that belt 22 positions hip pads 58 against the individuals body such that elongate member 60 may carry a substantial portion of the weight of load carrying frame 10. Although elongate members 60 are illustrated as being of fixed length, it should be understood that they may be made adjustable by the use of a conventional buckle or the like. Releasable fasteners 62 are of a conventional type and include a connection 66 fixedly secured to each of elongate members 60 with a hook 68 extending outwardly therefrom. A spring biased snap bar 70 is positioned interiorly of the short leg of hook 6S and is biased outwardly such that eye 64 may be received between hook 68 and snap bar 70 in a conventional manner.

When beginning a hike, the individual will position loaded frame such that load 14 rests on a stump, boulder or the like with the individual bending over to enter between supports 24, 26, 28, 36. When the individual stands, the load will be steadied by contact of the shoulder with straps at which time buckle 56 may be manipulated to aflix the lower end of frame 10 to the in dividuals body. When it is desired to remove frame 10, a reverse procedure may be used. When it is necessary to quickly remove frame 10, buckle 56 (which is preferably of the quick release type) may be unfastened and by flexing the upper torso and bending forward, frame 10 will be thrown forwardly over the individuals head.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved load carrying frame which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A frame for comprising four supports, each support having its lower end spaced at the corner of an imaginary regular quadrilateral, the supports being separated a sufilcient distance to receive the body of an individual within the space bounded by the supports;

at least one rigid brace securing each support to each helping an individual to carry a load of the two nearest supports, the supports and braces cooperating to form a rigid quadrilateral framework;

a pair of substantially parallel shoulder straps spaced apart sufficiently to receive the individuals head therebetween, the straps being secured to opposite sides of the framework for transmitting a substantial part of the load to the individuals shoulders;

at body encircling belt for surrounding the individuals waist and for carrying a substantial part of the load to be transported; and

at least three spaced apart elongate members connecting the belt to the framework.

2. The load carrying frame of claim 1 further including a receptacle affixed to one face of the framework; and

tie points adjacent the opposite face of the framework facilitating the securement of a packaged load on the opposite face for balancing the load on the individual.

3. The load carrying frame of claim 2 further including at least one strap, secured between the two supports bounding the opposite face, for spacing the packaged load away from the individual.

4. The load carrying frame of claim 3 wherein releasable fastening means selectively secures each elongate member to the framework.

5. The load carrying device of claim 4 wherein the fastening means includes an eye and a hook.

6. The load carrying frame of claim 1 wherein the supports are parallel, at least two of the braces are arcuately convex, substantially parallel and extend upwardly from the tops of the two braces to overlie the shoulders of the individuals, the shoulder straps being secured to the framework beneath the convex braces for forming a pair of downwardly facing concave surfaces to receive the shoulders of the individual, the braces and the straps extending from a front face of the framework to a rear face thereof.

7. The load carrying frame of claim 6 wherein the body encircling belt is positioned between the shoulder straps and the lower end of the framework.

8. The load carrying frame of claim 7 wherein the connection between the belt and the elongate members includes a pair of hip pads, on opposite sides of the belt, directed toward the remaining faces of the framework; and wherein there are four elongate members, two members being secured to each hip pad.

9. The load carrying frame of claim 8 wherein a releasable fastening means selectively secures each elongate member to the nearest support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,477 11/1903 Bush 224-5 1,469,111 9/ 1923 Russell 224-5.1 2,223,253 11/1940 Hamilton 2245.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 162,449 2/ 1949 Austria.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FRAME FOR HELPING AN INDIVIDUAL TO CARRY A LOAD COMPRISING FOUR SUPPORTS, EACH SUPPORT HAVING ITS LOWER END SPACED AT THE CORNER OF AN IMAGINARY REGULAR QUADRILATERAL, THE SUPPORTS BEING SEPARATED A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO RECEIVE THE BODY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE SPACE BOUNDED BY THE SUPPORTS; AT LEAST ONE RIGID BRACE SECURING EACH SUPPORT TO EACH OF THE TWO NEAREST SUPPORTS, THE SUPPORTS AND BRACES COOPERATING TO FORM A RIGID QUADRILATERAL FRAMEWORK; A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SHOULDER STRAPS SPACED APART SUFFICIENTLY TO RECEIVE THE INDIVIDUAL''S HEAD THEREBETWEEN, THE STRAPS BEING SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR TRANSMITTING A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE LOAD TO THE INDIVIDUAL''S SHOULDERS; A BODY ENCIRCLING BELT FOR SURROUNDING THE INDIVIDUAL''S WAIST AND FOR CARRYING A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE LOAD TO BE TRANSPORTED; AND AT LEAST THREE SPACED APART ELONGATE MEMBERS CONNECTING THE BELT TO THE FRAMEWORK. 